Protector sleeve for wires and pipes in wood frame construction

ABSTRACT

The “Protector Sleeve For Wires And Pipes In Wood Frame Construction” is a cylindrical grommet/bushing, that looks like a short length of pipe, that fits snugly in any hole drilled through a stud or joist in wood frame construction and which has anchors on both sides to keep it in place. When the “Protector Sleeve” is in place it shields the hole that was drilled and thereby protects the wire or pipe that the hole was drilled for from being punctured by any screw or nail that might be driven through the wall and into the stud. The “Protector Sleeve” also serves to provide a smooth surface for wires to pass through as they are being pulled through several studs at a time towards their end point. The “Protector Sleeve” also reinforces the stud where it was weakened by the hole that was drilled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of invention or the technical field can be broadlydescribed as wood frame construction, or remodeling, of houses or otherbuildings. When a structure is built with a wood frame the supports arecalled “studs,” they are usually sixteen inches apart and are usuallytwo by fours, three by fours, or two by sixes. Holes are drilled in thestuds so that wires and pipes can reach their final destination. Forexample, an electrical wire starts at the fuse box and in order to getto the light switch in your bedroom it has to pass through some wallsand that means that it has to pass through holes drilled in studs.Similarly, water pipes often have to pass through a stud or two to getto their final destination.

[0002] As the full title of the invention (“Protector Sleeve For WiresAnd Pipes In Wood Frame Construction”) indicates, the invention protectswires and pipes at the point where they pass through the wood stud. So,not only is the field of invention/technical field wood frameconstruction, it also crosses over into the filed of wiring (electrical,telecommunications, computer network, cable t.v, etc.) and into thefield of plumbing.

[0003] A description of the prior, or related, art would be that thereis currently only a protector plate. This is a flat steel rectangularplate, one sixteenth of an inch thick, one and a half inches wide, andbetween two and a half to five and a half inches tall. The protectorplate is fastened to the exposed side of the two by four (the one and ahalf inch thickness of it exactly matches the thickness of the two byfour). When the protector plate is in place any nails or screws comingfrom that direction can not penetrate the steel plate so they do notenter the wood and then reach the hole where the wire or pipe is.

[0004] The biggest problem with the prior art is that it does notprotect the wire or pipe from nails or screws that can penetrate fromthe other side. Although a protector plate on each side of the two byfour would protect from both sides it is not always possible to do this.Especially during remodeling—when only one side of a wall is open. Ifonly one side of a wall is open only that side gets protected by aprotector plate. Similarly, when dealing with exterior walls and thesiding is already put in place, only the interior side of the stud getsprotected with a protector plate. Since electricians and plumbersusually come onto a job after some walls and usually the siding isalready in place it is just not possible to put protector plates on bothsides of the wood when a hole is drilled.

[0005] Another problem with the prior art is that it does nothing toprotect a wire, as it is being pulled through a drilled hole, fromsnagging on the usually jagged or splintery edges of the hole. A wiresnagging on the jagged or splintery edges of a hole results indifficulty pulling the wire through and could cause rips in the plasticsheathing which covers and insulates the wire.

[0006] Yet another problem with the prior art is that it does verylittle to reinforce or strengthen the wood where the hole has beendrilled through it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The “Protector Sleeve” is a cylindrical grommet/bushing, thatlooks like a short length of pipe, that fits snugly in any hole drilledthrough a stud in wood frame construction, and which has anchors on bothsides to keep it in place. When the “Protector Sleeve” is in place itshields the hole that was drilled and thereby protects the wire or pipethat the hole was drilled for from being punctured by any screw or nailthat might be driven through the wall and into the stud. The “ProtectorSleeve” also serves to provide a smooth surface for wires to passthrough as they are being pulled through several studs at a time towardstheir end point. The “Protector Sleeve” also reinforces the stud whereit was weakened by the hole that was drilled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0008] (1) A typical version of the “Protector Sleeve” viewed from anacute angle.

[0009] (2) Another view of a typical version of the “Protector Sleeve”viewed from another angle.

[0010] (3) A typical version of the “Protector Sleeve” viewed from theside.

[0011] (4) A typical version of the “Protector Sleeve” viewed straighton.

[0012] (5) A close up of a section of the initial anchor showing theninety degree bend of the spike.

[0013] (6) A close up of the final anchor showing the ninety degree bendof its spike.

[0014] (7) The “Protector Sleeve” next to a two by four with a holedrilled in it prior to installation.

[0015] (8) The “Protector Sleeve” put in place by hand into a holedrilled in a two by four.

[0016] (9) The “Protector Sleeve” slid all the way into the two by fourand taped into place so that the initial anchor is flush with the woodand the spikes of the initial anchor are embedded in the wood.

[0017] (10) The other side of a two by four with the “Protector Sleeve”fully installed on the initial anchor side and with the final anchorprojecting outward.

[0018] (11) The “Protector Sleeve” viewed from the final anchor side,fully installed, with the final anchor bent down into place and with itsspike embedded in the wood.

[0019] (12) An X-ray view of a wood two by four with the “ProtectorSleeve” fully installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Function/Purpose:

[0021] As mentioned above, holes are drilled through studs so that wiresand pipes can get to their final destination. The protector sleeve is ametal grommet/bushing that should be placed in the drilled hole beforethe wire or pipe is run through it. A grommet is defined in thedictionary as: an eyelet of firm material to strengthen or protect anopening or to insulate or protect something passed through it. The“Protector Sleeve” does all these things. It protects the wire or pipeonce it is installed in the hole drilled in the stud by acting as apermanent shield against screws or nails that are driven into the stud.It insulates the wire or pipe, from the jagged wood, during theinstallation process thereby preventing snags or rips and by providing asmooth surface facilitates the installation. And it provides support andreinforcement for the wood stud that has been weakened by the holedrilled through it.

[0022] The main function of the “Protector Sleeve” is to protect wiresand pipes at the point where they pass through the wood stud. Whenpictures are being hung or shelves, cabinets or other furniture is beingattached to a wall, nails or screws are used. When anything is beinghung on, or attached to, a wall the installer usually tries to do sowhere there is a stud. The installer wants to sink the screw or nailinto a stud because this gives support and strength whereas a nail orscrew that only penetrates the drywall or plaster, and does not sinkinto anything behind, will not be able to bear much weight. If a nail orscrew happens to go through a wall and into a stud at a point wherethere is a wire or pipe running through the stud it could puncture thatwire or pipe if it goes deep enough. If a wire is penetrated there couldbe a short circuit which could be dangerous and/or could make that wireuseless. If a pipe is punctured (plastic or copper pipes are easilypunctured by steel nails and screws) then of course its contents willleak inside the wall. The “Protector Sleeve” protects the pipes andwires from being punctured by providing a steel barrier all around thepipe or wire.

[0023] Not only does the “Protector Sleeve” protect the wires and pipesonce they are in place but it also protects wires as they are beingpulled through the studs when they are being installed. When a hole isdrilled through wood its edges are rough and there are splinters orburrs that can snag and rip the plastic sheathing which covers andinsulates the wires. When the “Protector Sleeve” is in place it providesa smooth surface for the wire to slide against as it is pulled intoplace. In this regard the “Protector Sleeve” is a bushing. Thedictionary defines a bushing as: a removable cylindrical lining for anopening used to resist abrasion and serve as a guide. The “ProtectorSleeve” eliminates contact between the wire and the wood and therebyeliminates the abrasion that could otherwise cause damage to the wire.The “Protector Sleeve” should be installed from the direction the wireor pipe is coming and in that way will act somewhat like a funnel andguide the wire over its smooth surface.

[0024] Another function performed by the “Protector Sleeve” is that itprovides support and reinforcement for the wood stud at that point whereit has been weakened by the hole drilled through it. Removing wood fromthe stud when a hole is drilled weakens it. Putting a metal grommet inthat place will give it back some of its strength. It this regard the“Protector Sleeve” helps transfer any load placed on the stud fromabove, past and around the drilled hole, like the arches of a tunneldrilled through a mountain distribute the load of the weight of themountain around the opening.

[0025] Physical Description:

[0026] The body, the operative component of, the “Protector Sleeve” is alength of pipe that fits snugly in the hole drilled in the stud orjoist. If, for example, a seven eighths inch drill bit is used to drilla seven eighths inch hole in a stud, the body of the appropriate“Protector Sleeve” would have a seven eighths inch outside diameter. Ifthe width of the stud is one and a half inches (this would be the “two”part of a “two by four” because a “two by four” is really only one and ahalf inches thick) then the “Protector Sleeve” body would be one and ahalf inches long. There would be anchors on both sides of the “ProtectorSleeve” body so that it can be secured in place.

[0027] The initial anchor is a ring of metal that flares or splaysoutward at a right angle to the body and thereby prevents the “ProtectorSleeve” from going through the hole and falling out the other side. Thisinitial anchor would perform in the same manner as the rim of a shotgunshell prevents the shell from sliding all the way into the shotgunbarrel and falling out the muzzle. Once the “Protector Sleeve” is inplace with the initial anchor flush up against the stud, the finalanchor can be bent into place.

[0028] The final anchor is a ¼″ strip of steel projecting outward, inthe same direction as the body of the “Protector Sleeve,” on the sideopposite the initial anchor, that can be bent downwards 90 degrees sothat it is flush with the stud. When the final anchor is bent into placeit prevents the “Protector Sleeve” from going back out in the directionit was installed from. Both anchors should have spikes in them whichwill embed the anchors into the wood of the stud and thereby hold the“Protector Sleeve” very secure.

[0029] The best way to visualize what the “Protector Sleeve” looks likeis to say that it resembles a miniature top hat with a mailbox flagprojecting upward from the side of the hat at its top. (FIG. 1-2.) Theround platform at the top of the top hat would be removed so thatsomething could pass through it. The brim (the word brim is used here tomean the projecting rim) of the top hat would have three diagonal nicksin it which would cause triangular flaps that would be pointed in thesame direction as the cylindrical body of the “Protector Sleeve.” (Thetriangular flaps would be pointed in a direction parallel with thecylindrical body and pointing upward if the top hat were being worn.)

[0030] The body of the “Protector Sleeve,” the sleeve part of it forwhich it is titled, is that cylindrical (or tubular) part of the tophat. (FIG. 3-4.) The body is the operative component of “ProtectorSleeve.” The body is what serves as a shield for the wire or pipe,provides a smooth surface for wire installation and reinforces the hole.

[0031] The brim of the top hat and the system of three spikes projectingupward from what would be the brim of the top hat will be called the“initial anchor.” (FIG. 3-4.) Since the “Protector Sleeve” is made ofsteel the triangular flaps would be like spikes/nails that would embedthe “Protector Sleeve” into the stud. (FIG. 5.) Alternatively, thetriangular flaps do not have to be nicks or notches taken out of thebrim of the hat and they could simply be sharp little trianglesextending outward from the brim and then bend up at a 90 degree angle.

[0032] The part of the “Protector Sleeve” that looks like a mail boxflag will be called the final anchor. (FIG. 3-4.) The final anchorconsists of a tall thin rectangle with a triangular or pennant typeflag, (i.e. a flag that tapers to a point like those used for nauticalpurposes or of the sort that has sports teams names and logos on it),extending from one of its sides at the top. The triangular flag would bebent to a right angle pointing outward from the cylindrical body and inthe same direction that the brim projects. (FIG. 6.)

[0033] The strip of steel comprising the final anchor should be ¼″longer than the body of the “Protector Sleeve,” (the body of “ProtectorSleeve” is determined by thickness of material it is going into). Thereason the initial anchor should be ¼″ longer is so that when it isbeing installed the spike at its tip will clear the hole and the“Protector Sleeve” can be tapped into place easily.

[0034] Installation:

[0035] The body of the “Protector Sleeve” slides into the drilled holein the stud. (FIG. 7.) It should be a very tight fit and thereforeshould require at least some effort to put in place. (FIG. 8.) Theinitial anchor of the “Protector Sleeve” stops it from going all the waythrough and falling out the other side. The initial anchor keeps it inplace and secures it firmly until the final anchor is tapped into placesecuring it permanently.

[0036] Because the three spikes of the initial anchor project out of thebrim and towards the wood, when the tips of the spikes come in contactwith the wood it would need a few hammer taps until the entire brim isflush with the wood and the spikes were driven as far into the wood asthey could be. (FIG. 9.) Once tapped into place, so that it snugly fitsin the hole drilled in the stud, the body of the “Protector Sleeve”would be just long enough to reach the other side but not stick out pastit. In other words, if the thickness of the stud is one and a halfinches then the “Protector Sleeve” body would be one and a half inchesso that it completely covers the area of the drilled hole but does notextend beyond it.

[0037] The only thing protruding past the hole on the side opposite theinitial anchor would be the final anchor, (the part that looks like amailbox flag—a triangular pennant attached to a thin rectangular polewith the flag part bent to a right angle from the thin rectangularpole). (FIG. 10.) The final anchor would jut out/project from the studat a right angle to the stud. It should then be tapped into place with ahammer in such a way that it bends at the point of contact with the“Protector Sleeve” body. As the final anchor is bent into place the tipof the triangular flag looking part of it will come into contact withthe wood stud. The triangular flag should be tapped into the wood sothat it is embedded and the thin rectangular strip is flush with thewood. (FIG. 11.) When the triangular flag is embedded in the wood itwill prevent the “Protector Sleeve” from ever going back out the way itcame. Like the fluke of a ships anchor digs into the dirt or sand, thespikes of the “Protector Sleeve” anchor dig into the wood and holds itsecurely in place. Thus, with the initial anchor preventing the bodyfrom going through the hole in one direction, and the final anchorpreventing the body from going through the hole in the other direction,the “Protector Sleeve” is installed. (FIG. 12.)

[0038] Fabrication:

[0039] Above is the general idea of the “Protector Sleeve.” Its exactmeasurements will vary depending on the application and whatever anylocal building codes might require. It is anticipated that the thicknessof the metal will need to be one sixteenth of an inch. One sixteenth ofan inch should be thick enough to withstand penetration by nails orscrews and strong enough to provide structural support. If, for example,the application is for standard electrical wire being run through astandard two by four then the length of the body would be one and a halfinches (two by fours are not really two inches by four inches they areone and a half by three and a half), and the outside diameter would beseven eighths of an inch so that it would fit snugly in a hole drilledwith a seven eighths drill bit. Since the thickness of the metal usedwould be one sixteenth of an inch the inside diameter would be threequarters of an inch. This size of “Protector Sleeve” would also work fora two by six, two by eight, two by ten, or two by twelve since they areall really one and a half inches thick.

[0040] The “Protector Sleeve” can be produced as a single piece ofpressed or stamped steel. The initial anchor and final anchor should beseamlessly connected to the body of the “Protector Sleeve”. Even thoughthe initial anchor and final anchor are described separately they areintended to be part of the same continuous piece of steel.

[0041] Like a paper clip can be bent many times before it breaks, so toothe “Protector Sleeve's” final anchor will be able to be bent into placewithout breaking.

1. I claim the invention to be a cylindrical grommet that is insertedinto a hole drilled through wood studs or joists, the body of whichlooks like a length of pipe made of steel that is approximately onesixteenth inch thick, said body of the invention being as long as thedepth of the drilled hole and which fits snugly and flush to the wallsof the drilled hole and which serves to protect the wire or pipeinstalled through the hole from being punctured by nails or screws thatmight later be used to fasten something to the wall where the stud is,said cylindrical grommet being anchored in place initially and on oneside by a ring of steel which flares or splays outward at a right anglefrom the body, and said cylindrical grommet then finally being anchoredon the other side by a short strip of metal that had projected out fromthe end of the cylindrical grommet opposite the initial anchor and whichis bent downward and against the wood so that the final anchor isperpendicular to the body.
 2. I claim the invention to be a cylindricalbushing, made of steel that is approximately one sixteenth inch thick,the body of which looks like a length of pipe, that is inserted into ahole drilled through wood studs or joists, which fits snugly and flushto the walls of the drilled hole and which is as long as the depth ofthe drilled hole, said bushing providing a smooth surface during thepull of wires through the hole thereby facilitating the pull of the wireand protecting the wire sheathing from rips/punctures and othercompromises that might be caused by wood splinters or burrs existing onthe wood walls of the drilled hole, said cylindrical bushing beinganchored in place initially and on one side by a ring of steel whichflares or splays outward at a right angle from the body, and saidcylindrical bushing then finally being anchored on the other side by ashort strip of metal that had projected out from the end of thecylindrical bushing opposite the initial anchor which is bent downwardand against the wood so that said final anchor is perpendicular to thebody.
 3. I claim the invention to be a structural reinforcingcylindrical grommet/bushing, made of steel that is approximately onesixteenth inch thick, the body of which looks like a length of pipe,that is inserted into a hole drilled through wood studs or joists, whichis as long as the drilled hole and which fits snugly and flush to thewalls of the drilled hole, and serves to reinforce the wood stud orjoist by distributing the load(s) around the drilled hole where the holewould otherwise weaken it, said cylindrical grommet/bushing beinganchored in place initially and on one side by a ring of steel whichflares or splays outward at a right angle from the body, and saidcylindrical grommet/bushing then finally being anchored on the otherside by a short strip of metal that had projected out from the end ofthe cylindrical grommet/bushing opposite the initial anchor which isbent downward and against the wood so that said final anchor isperpendicular to the body.